Safety guard for machines



NOV. 6, 1934. Q E DRUM El' AL 1,979,457

SAFETY GUARDFOR MACHINES Filed Jan. 28. 1932 '-f-r: f Z0 `7" `Z,/ il 4'M /3 7,/ fj; 3f

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Patented Nov. 6,\ 1934 UNIT'FED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY` GUARD FoaMACHINES Pennsylvania Application January 28, 1932, Serial No. 589,377

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to safety devices and more particularly toa guardassociated with a rotating part of a skein dyeing machine.

In the dyeing of skeins of yarn it has been the practice to suspend theskeins of material upon a support and to carry out the dyeing operationby dipping the skeins in a dye bath or by subjecting the skeins tointernal spraying through the medium of a rotatable part. In a new typeof skein dyer, which is now being marketed, a radical departure fromprior existing machines has been devised wherein the skeins aresuspended from a fixed support, which includes a spray mechanism incombination with a sporadically or continuously operated rotatingapparatus for lifting the skeins from the support and replacing themthereon in a different relative position. Since the skein lifting deviceis alternately rotatable and stationary with the latter more `generallythe longer period, there is the strong temptation for the operator totake advantage of this rest period and assume the risk of hand meddlingwith the skeins on the chance that no accident will occur at the time ofthe sudden starting of the rotatable parts.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improvedsafety guard for use with machines having exposed rotatable parts; toprovide a guard for protecting the operator of a dyeing machine frominjury during the operation of such machine; to provide a guardcontrolled means which prevents actuation of a rotatable part until theguard is in its protecting position; to provide a guard mechanism whichis simple in construction, sure in operation, and one which can be builtin or attached to any machine; and to provide other improvements as willhereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of aprotecting guard embodying one form of the present invention as appliedto a skein dyeing machine; Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of thesame; and Fig. 3 represents a diagram of one form of electrical controlcircuit.

Referring to the drawing one form of the present invention consists of aguard member 10 preferably comprising a plate 11 mounted in a suitablesupporting frame 12. The plate 11 may be of sheet metal or any othersuitable material adapted to act as a shield between the operator of amachine and a moving part of such machine. The size of the plate 1l mayvary in accordance with the number or dimensions of the parts to beshielded but where used with a skein dyeing machine of the type hereshown the relation of the moving parts and the shield is such as topermit an opening 13 through which the dyeing operation can be watchedfrom the front of the machine. This opening 13 is formed by arms 14 ascontinuations of the sides of the frame 12 and which project outwardlyto terminate respectively in hubs 15. These hubs 15 are keyed orotherwise made fast to a shaft 16 which is journalled in bearings 17mounted upon the frame 18 of the machine in such a position that theguard member 10 can be swung to an operating position in front of therotatable skein lifting devices 20 or lowered to an inoperative position(as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 1) to allow access to the perforateddye supports 21.

In order to prevent the rotatable part or parts, such as the skeinlifting devices 20, from rotating when the guard member 10 is in itslowered or inoperative position, the electric motor 22, by which motionis imparted to the lift devices 20, has its lead wires 23 and 24 in acircuit whichI includes two switches 25 and 26 arranged in series. Ashere shown the two switches are conveniently encased in a combinationunit 27 with the switch operating plungers 28 and 30 projectingtherefrom for switch control. The plunger 23 of the switch 25 is locatedabutting and in the path of movement of a throw lever 31 so pivoted asto cause the plunger 28 to close the switch 25 when the lever 31 ismoved toward the unit 2'?. The lever switch closing means can be variedfrom the construction here shown without departing from the invention.The means for shifting the lever 31 is preferably a side face cam 32which is keyed or otherwise made fast to one end of the shaft 16 in sucha relative position that when the guard member l0 is in its operativeposition the cam 32 will be holding the lever 31 so that the plunger 28maintains the switch 25 closed. The shape of the cam 32 is such that theupward swing of the guard member 10 causes the lever 31 to move to closethe switch while the reverse movement allows the lever 31 to return onthe iniluence of the spring 33 acting on the plunger 28.

For conveniently handling the guard member 10` a handle 34 is attachedto a side of the member 10 where it can be readily grasped and used forraising and lowering the member 10 as desired. When in operativeposition this handle 34 serves as a support by resting against theadjacent end of one of the skein supports 2l.

In use the guard member 10 is in the dotted line position shown in Fig.2 whenever the machine to which it is attached is not in use. The

control or switch shifting cam 32 is now in position to allow the lever3l to assume its inoperative position and the switch 25 is thereforeopen. When it is desired to start the machine the operator grasps thehandle 34 and swings the guard member l0 upwardly to the full lineposition shown in the gures. This movement of the guard member 10 istransmitted through the shaft 16 to the cam 32 which rides across and incon-4 tact with the lever 31 so that the latter is caused to close theswitch 25. The circuit controlling the motor is still open, however,because the switch 26 must be operated manually before the circuit isentirely closed, 1n this way the machine is always safeguarded againstoperation when the guard member i0 is down and consequently all dangerof injury from rotating or other moving parts is eliminated. When themachine is to be stopped the plunger controlling switch 26 is actuatedto break the motor circuit and then the guard member 10 is swung toinoperative position whereby the switch 25 is opened to preventaccidental starting of the machine. t will be apparent that should thesupplemental switch 26 be closed while the guard member 10 is in itsinoperative position there will be no starting of the machine becausethe circuit at this time is broken by reason oi the switch 25 havingbeen opened by the guard member when it moved to its inoperativeposition. The motor of the machine will remain at rest under thesecircumstances until the guard member is turned up to its shieldingposition in front of the movable parts and when this takes place thecontrol switch 25 will have been shifted to closed position and thecircuit thereby nally closed for starting the motor.

It is to be understood that the term skein throughout the foregoingspecification is merely by way of example and is not to be construed asa limitation of the invention since broadly the invention applies to anytype of dyeing machine whether it dyes skeins, piece goods, or any othermaterial.

While only a single form is shown in which this invention may beembodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited toany specific construction, but might be applied to Various forms withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. In a dyeing machine the combination or a material support, relativelymovable exposed parts associated with said support, means including anelectric circuit for actuating said parts, a switch in said circuit,spring means normally acting to maintain said switch open, a shaftrotatably mounted on said machine, a guard member xed to said shaft formovement therewith into a position to shield said movable parts, and acam on the shaft engaging the spring means to close the switch in oneposition of the guard.

2. In a machine of the character described in- 190 cluding movableparts, a guard plate mounted to swing to a position in front of saidparts or to a position to give free access to the same, a cam operableupon movement of said plate, means including an electrical circuit foractuating said parts, a switch in said circuit, and spring means normalyacting to maintain said switch open and cooperatively associated withthe cam whereby movement of the guard to operative position closes theswitch.

GEORGE E. DRUM. WILLIAM I-I. JAXHEIMER.

